Flags fly at half mast at Jomo Kenyatta mausoleum in honour of CDF Francis Ogolla

All flags at the Jomo Kenyatta mausoleum were o Friday raised at half-mast in honour of the late Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla. 

The raising of flags at half-mast is seen as a symbol of respect, mourning and salute. 

The tradition of flying the flag at half-mast began in the 17th century.

Some sources, the flag is lowered to make room for an "invisible flag of death" flying above.

According online site emflag.com, although the flag does not have to be exactly in the middle of the staff or flagpole, it should be lowered to at least the width of your flag.

The site says this is to imply that something is missing above the flag with many scholars referring to this space as the "invisible flag of death".

When hoisting a flag that is to be displayed at half-mast, it is raised to the finial of the pole for an instant, then lowered to half-mast.

Likewise, when the flag is lowered at the end of the day, it is hoisted to the finial for an instant, and then lowered.

This comes after President William Ruto announced a 3-day national mourning for General Ogolla.

Ruto also announced that the Kenya Air Force has constituted and dispatched an air investigation team, to establish the cause of the air crash that killed Ogolla and nine others.

"This is a moment of great sadness for myself, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the KDF fraternity and the nation at large," Ruto said.

"Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and woman. The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya, and especially the KDF fraternity."

The President also described Ogolla's death as the demise of a four-star general who has fallen in the course of duty and service to the country.